TAK KENAL MAKA TAK CINTA

"It is a common knowledge that much useful research information is kept under lock and key on the ground of confidentiality without there being a serious consideration whether there is a need to do so. People who are of it for the benefit of the state have found it virtually impossible to gain access to it."

"It seems that some research reports and consultancy studies have been completed but subsequently left to gather dust on the shelves. So it seems that we need to research into these researches to find out why they have not produced any positive results!."

"Naturally we should ask what findings these researches have produced, and to what extent they have had practical applications in our development efforts. Perhaps we should even ask whether they have been presented for the attention of the relevant authorities and whether the decision-makers have made use of them. IF THESE research findings have in fact been made use of we are naturally interested to know what the outcomes are. If, on the other hand, research findings are not given due consideration for practical applications, we should also establish what the reasons are."

"Moreover, I feel that there appears to be a communication gap between researchers or consultants and administrators or implementors."

The Importance of Research in Development Planning.

(Keynote address by Sabah Chief Minister at seminar on Research utilization" organized by IDS on 29th June 1988)

Research has been given increasing prominence as part of the national development planning process in this country. This is reflected in the Fifth Malaysia Plan which, I was told, was allocated a sum of $400 million for research. I think this considerable amount allocated for this purpose is well justified as there is no doubt in my mind that research leads to better decision-making and therefore better performance. In fact I feel that amount could be further increased considering that $400 million still falls short of the target of one percent of the GNP set for developing countries. Given the limited fund budgeted for R&D, it is all the more important that whatever money is set aside for this purpose is used prudently to produce optimum results. If today’s seminar is intended to achieve this aim, as I think it is, then it deserves our closest attention as it is most timely.

Malaysia has a respectable record in research and development in the field of agriculture. In fact, research bodies such as the Palm Oil Research Institute of Malaysia (PORIM) and the Rubber Research Institute (RRI) are world renowned. Industrial research lags somewhat behind, but this too is being given more attention now.

I understand that this seminar will discuss research in both the industrial and agriculture sectors as well as research programmes related to forestry, human resource development, and the economy generally.

This seminar will no doubt review the role and progress of researches that we have done so far. Since most of the researches are conducted by the public sector, we should also examine whether our research efforts have been consistent with our development priorities in Malaysia, particularly Sabah.

I understand that in Sabah alone well over four hundred research studies have been carried out by public sector agencies over the last twelve years. Naturally we should ask what findings these researches have produced, and to what extent they have had practical applications in our development efforts. Perhaps we should even ask whether they have been presented for the attention of the relevant authorities and whether the decision-makers have made use of we are naturally interested to know what the outcomes are. If, on the other hand, research findings are not given due consideration for practical applications, we should also establish what the reasons are.

It seems that some research reports and consultancy studies have been completed but subsequently left to gather dust on the shelves. So it seems that we need to research into these researches to find out why they have not produced any positive results!.

As you know, public sector agencies are normally involved in applied researches. It is most important that research recommendations are practical and can be implemented, having regard to the existing constraints of the government machinery.

In the past, some studies undertaken by foreign consultants were not very pratical as their recommendations had little regard to the capability of the development agency or even the government itself to carry them out successfully.

In Sabah, we have seen many research or study recommendations being implemented in a piecemeal fashion, thus falling short of achieving the overall objectives. Sometimes this may have been due to some inherent weaknesses in the organization which implements these recommendations, in which case a revamp or readjustment of the existing machinery may have to precede implementation.

Moreover, I feel that there appears to be a communication gap between researchers or consultants and administrators or implementors. In a developing state like Sabah, civil servants should not see themselves simply as traditional administrators. They should be familiar with basic development concepts and techniques which are often applied in research and consultancy studies. A better inputs in the planning process and facilitate the implementation of research recommendations at the operational level.

Another problem is the lack of an organizational framework within which the numerous research programmes may be effectively coordinated and applied. It is a common knowledge that much useful research information is kept under lock and key on the ground of confidentiality without there being a serious consideration whether there is a need to do so. People who are of it for the benefit of the state have found it virtually impossible to gain access to it.

This difficulty is experienced by both the private and the public sectors. I am pleased to note that this seminar has relevant papers to address these problems. I hope that effective measures can be found to overcomes these constraints.

I have highlighted some of the problems and issues in relation to research and its application in the hope that you will explore these issues further in the next two days.

Obviously R&D must be geared towards generating better efficiency, improved productivity and increased competitiveness not only in the agricultural sector, but also in all other sector of the economy, particularly manufacturing.

Source:

Stan Yee, 1991. J. P. K. The Making of A Malaysian.